Discharger for rockets, flares, and the like



May 15, 1951 c. D. SCHERMULY ETAL 2,553,477 DISCHARGER FOR ROCKETS, FLARES, AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 6, 1948 a w F FIG.I.

INVENTORS ALFRED JAMES SCHERMULY CONRAD DAVID SCHERMULY Ann CHARLES SCHERMULY 1y the/k attorrn vs' Patented May 15, 1951 UNITED STATES P'E'ENT FFICE DISCHARGER FOR ROCKETS, FLARES, AND THE LIKE digate, England Application February 6, 1948, Serial No. 6,696 In Great Britain March 4, 1947 1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to dischargers for firing rockets, flares and the like by the passage of an electric current and has for its object to provide a discharge which is simple in construction and simple and eflicient in operation.

According to this invention a discharger comprises a metal holder, a contact arranged within but insulated from said holder, and means for including said holder and said contact in an electric circuit.

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section of the lower end of a discharger for rockets, flares or the like and Figure 2 is a plan view of the discharger shown in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, a cylindrical metal tube I constituting the holder of the discharger is flanged at one end at 2 so that the holder I may be secured to a suitable base by securing means passed through said flange 2. For example the flange 2 may be secured to a block of wood 3 by means of screws 4. A terminal 5 is secured to the outer wall of the holder I, for example by screwing said terminal into a threaded hole 6 in the holder I. The flanged end of the holder I is provided with a wooden plug I having an axial recess 8 containing a brass contact 3. The brass contact may be cylindrical with a head adapted to project above the upper surface of the wooden plug I as shown. The cylindrical portion of the contact 9 is provided with a threaded hole for the reception of a terminal screw I which passes through a hole in the wall of the holder I and through a passage in the wooden plug 1. An insulating sleeve II is arranged around the terminal screw I0 at least at the part where it passes through the wall of the holder I.

The discharger is adapted to flre rockets, flares or the like having electrical ignition means, the wires of said ignition means terminating in a contact I2 on the outer casing and a contact I3 on the base of the rocket or the like.

When a rocket of the said kind is inserted in the discharger according to the present invention, the contact I2 on the outer casing of the rocket makes contact with the holder I of the discharger, and the contact I3 on the base of the rocket makes contact with the contact 9 within the holder I. By closing a circuit through the terminals on the discharger by means of a switch I4 the electrical ignition means contained in the rocket or the like are actuated. -The 2 switch I 4 and battery I may be conveniently mounted on the base 3.

The contact 9 within the discharger holder is shown arranged centrally and this location is preferred. It may, however, be arranged eccentrically, the contact 9 on the rocket or like then being positioned so that it will engage the contact 9. I

A discharger according to this invention has the advantage that rockets, flares or the like to be fired from it may be inserted therein with out any precaution to ensure correct positioning, such as is the case when the rocket, flare or the like and the discharger are provided with interengaging socket and pin connections.

To fire the rocket or the like with the discharger according to the invention it is thus only necessary to drop it into the discharger holder with the contact I3 at the lower end and to close the switch I 4. This operation can easily be performed in the dark.

What we claim is:

A discharger for rockets, flares or the like comprising a. cylindrical metal holder having a flange at the lower end thereof for attachment to a base, a terminal mounted on said holder, a block of insulating material in the lower end of said holder, a recess in the upper face of said block.

' a contact in said recess the upper surface of which projects above the face of the block, a threaded rod screwed into said contact and passing through a passage in said block and through a hole in the holder, an insulating sleeve surrounding said threaded rod where it passes through said holder, and a terminal mounted on the free end of the threaded rod.

CONRAD DAVID SCHERMULY. ALFRED JAMES SCHERMULY. CHARLES SCHERMULY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

